Apparatus for beating fibrous stock



Sept. 10, 1940. w KELLEY 2,214,080

APPARATUS FOR BEATING FIBRGUS STOCK Filed Jan. 2, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 1\s J A o O t\ N 8 g a w M k) N g 133 y g 3 3 g;

Bnventor a mhwg attorney Y E L L E K A W APPARATUS FOR BEATING FIBROUSSTOCK Filed Jan. 2. 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ermcntor Sept. 10, 1940. w. A.KELLEY 2,214,080

APPARATUS FOR BEATING FIBROUS STOCK Filed Jan. 2, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Q R xx ZSnventor Gttorneg Patented Sept. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE APPARATUS FOR BEATING FIBROUS STOCK William A. Kelley, Milwaukee,Wis.

Application January 2, 1937, Serial No. 118,743 8 Claims. (01. 92-22)This invention relates to an apparatus for ing between the electricmotor and the lighter treating fibrous stock utilized for themanufacbars is also utilized to actuate an indexing or ture of paper orsimilar material. control mechanism having a dog whose position In themanufacture of paper the fibrous stock, is varied in accordance with theposition of the prior to being fed to the paper making machine, beaterroll with respect to its bed plate. Assois worked or treated in beaters,usually Hollander ciated with the indexing mechanism is a limit heaters,and in the Jordan refining engines. switch which, when operated, closesa circuit to While the invention will be described as apa cycle timer.After the first batch of the stock plied to a Hollander type of beater,it is to be has been properly worked in the beater the motor 10understood that it is applicable with equal addriving the beater roll ismanually stopped and 10 vantage to other types of beaters such as thethe dog is so set that when subsequent batches Thorsen Hery, Smith Egan,Vortex type beaters, of the same supply of stock have been properly orin fact any similar type of system of stock worked the dog will actuateor trip the limit preparation wherein batches of stock are worked.switch and close the circuit to the cycle timer Up to the present timethe extent to which thereby stopping the beating by returning the 15 thestock is worked in the beater has been left beater roll to its startingposition and, if desired,

to the judgment of the beaterman who relies causing the operationsfollowing the beating to upon his experience and his observation of theoccur automatically and in proper sequence. For condition of the stockto determine when the example, the cycle timer may be employed to stopstock has been sufiiciently worked. This practhe roll and raise it backto its starting position, 20 tice has made it impossible to uniformlyprepare ea y r another y p the p Valve the stock and as a consequencethe stock, whe to drop the stock into a stock chest; thereaftermanufactured into paper, varies in weight and fir op n and then closethe h v v th n in physical characteristics, close the dump valve; next,first open and then In Patent No. 1,883,051, granted Oct ber 13, closethe valve which controls the supply of'the 1932, to Oscar Stamets andLeon A. Duckworth for IleXt at o Stock t0 the e d fi a y a control formotor driven apparatus, the electric throw the beater driving rollbackunder the conmotor .which shifts the beater roll toward and trol of theautomatic device thereby Starting a away from the bed plate has itsaction controlled Other yc or varied in accordance with the currentin-put Another l e 0f the invention is to provide 30 to the motor whichrotates the beater roll. This an apparatus of e r er in qu st o Whichmethod of control improves the beating operation is Simple and durablein COIlStruCtiOn, reliable a d since the current in-put to the beaterroll driving efiie'ient in Operation, and e y a eco omical to motordepends upon the load, that is, the resistmanufacture, install and ai tanance to turning movement of the beater roll and other Objects and v ags es e in Certain further since the resistance to turning movement novelfeatures of the construction, arrangement of the beater roll varies inaccordance with the d Combination of parts Wh ch W l be hereinconditionof the stock being worked. However, after m fully deScTibed and pa y Poeven with this improved method of control the ed t n t appended mreference in 40 extent to which the stock is worked or the time d to t py n r win rm ng a 40 in which it is worked is still left to the judgmentpart of this specification, and in which:

of the beaterman who is guided largely by the Figure 1 is a plan View ofa beater constructed feel of the stock in his hand. in accordance withthe present invention;

One of the objects of the invention is to insure Figure 2 is a viewthereon in side elevation, the

uniform preparation of the stock. In carrying beater being shownassociated with a stock sup- 45 out this purpose, the first batch of thesupply of ply tank, the valves of which are illustrated distock workedin the beater is periodically sampled agrammatically;

and laboratory tested until the stock is found Figure 3 is a fragmentaryview partly in side to have the desired characteristics. For exelevationand partly in vertical section illustrat- 5O ample, the stock may besubjected to freeness, g e indexing mechanism d the manner in mullen,tear, fold and tensile tests. The stock which it is actuated; may beworked in a Hollander beater of the type Figure 4 is a view in elevationillustrating one wherein the position of the beater roll relativetype-0f cyc e timer Which y be p yed; to the bed plate is controlledautomatically in Figure 5 is a view in section on line 5--5 ofaccordance with Patent No. 1,883,051. The gear- Figure 4; 55

Figure 6 is an elementary wiring diagram of the beater control circuits;and

Figure 7 is a graph illustrating the sequence and timing of theoperations contemplated.

Referring to the drawings, the beater designated generally at Bcomprises a tank or trough H1. The usual central partition H is providedin the tank l and terminates short of the ends thereof. A suitablenumber of bed plates I2 are provided. A beater roll l3 cooperates withthe bed plates and is mounted on a shaft I4 with a pulley I5 whereby itmay be driven from an electric motor- (not shown). It is to beunderstood that the shaft M be driven in any suitable manner, that is,any type of gearing or motion transmission mechanism may be interposedbetween its driving electric motor and the shaft. The shaft I4 isrotatably mounted in bearings It provided on lighter bars H which arepivotally supported as at |8 in Figure 2 so that upon rocking of thesebars upon their pivotal supports the beater roll I3 is shifted towardand away from the bed plates l2. The lighter bars ll are constrained tocorresponding rocking motion by means of a cross shaft rotatablysupported in bearings 2| and having crank arms 22 at its ends connectedby means oflinks 23 to the lighter bars IT.

A small electric motor 25 is supported on one of the lighter bars andhas its armature shaft coupled to or in driving connection with a speedreducer designated diagrammatically at 26. The speed reducer drives apinion 2'! which meshes with a large gear wheel 28 fixed to ahorizontally disposed rotatable worm shaft 29. This shaft 29 has worms30 secured thereto and meshing with worm wheels 3|, the hubs of whichare provided with threaded openings to engage the lighter bar screws 32.The screws 32 are anchored at their lower ends as indicated at 33 andtheir upper threaded portions pass through openings in the lighter bars.The worm nuts 3| bear against washers or suitable bearing surfaces 34which surround the openings in the lighter bars through which the screws32 extend.

When the motor 25 is run in one direction it will rotate the worm nuts3| so as to depress the adJacent portions of the lighter bars therebymoving the beater roll away from its bed plates. Reversal of the motor25 will move the beater roll toward the bed plates. The shaft 29 mayalso be provided with a hand wheel 29 whereby it may be manually turned.

The control for the motor which drives or rotates the beater and for themotor 25 is fully disclosed in Patent No. 1,883,051 and reference ismade to said patent for a complete disclosure of these features.

The beater is equipped with a discharge opening 35 controlled by a dumpvalve designated diagrammatically at 36. The dump valve 36 is controlledas to its position by means of an electric motor 37 connected up to thedump valve by a suitable motion transmission mechanism designateddiagrammatically at 38.

Valve controlled water supply devices or flush valves 40 and 4| overliethe beater tank and are employed for the usual purpose of flushing outthe tank after each batch of stock has been worked. The valves 40 and 4|are of suitable construction, being preferably biased to closed positionand opened electrically, that is, by an electromagnet, an electricmotor, or the like.

The stock is supplied to the tank of the beater in any suitable way. Forexample, a suitable conduit or pipe line may be led to the tank of thebeater from any suitable .source. The flow of the stock through theconduit may be controlled by a valve also motor operated if desired. InFigure 2, the stock is shown as being supplied to the tank of the beaterfrom a stock supply tank which receives its stock from a conduit 46provided with a valve (motor operated) discharge fitting 41. Thedischarge opening of the tank 45 is also equipped with a motor operateddischarge valve 48. The valves 41 and 48 are preferably controlled as toposition by suitable electric motors.

The advantage of using a tank such as tank 45 is that it provides oneconvenient way of measuring the batches of the stock. It is desirable tohave each batch of stock constituted of a certain definite amount. Inthe apparatus disclosed, for example, it would be practical to operateupon batches of stock weighing either 1000 pounds, 1500 pounds, or 2000pounds.

The present invention proposes the provision on one of the lighter barsof an indexing or controlling mechanism designated generally at I. Thisindexing mechanism comprises a graduated disc 50 supported for rotationon a short shaft 5| mounted on the adjacent lighter bar. A dog 52 iscarried by the periphery of the disc and is adjustable angularlythereabout. A suitable clamping member 53 is provided to releasablysecure the dog in any adjustment. The shaft which carries the disc 5| isrotatably supported and also carries a gear wheel 54 which is the drivenelement of a reduction, gear train 55 interposed between the shaft 5|and a driving pinion 56 fixed to and rotatable with the worm shaft 29.

With this construction the indexing disc 50 is rotated in one directionas the beater roll |3 moves towards its bed plates l2 and in theopposite direction as the beater roll moves away from its bed plates.And the extent of the mo-. tion in either direction depends upon theextent to which the beater roll is moved. Supported on the lighter barwhich carries the motor 25 and in operative relation to the indexingmechanism I is a master limit switch 5'! which has an operating element58 lying in the path of movement of the dog 52 and adapted to beactuated thereby as the dog travels past the operating element.

The master limit switch is electrically connected to the circuit of -amotor 60 of a cycle timer designated generally at C. This cycle timermay be mounted at any convenient point. The motor 60 drives a pinion 6|which meshes'with a gear wheel 62 fixed to one end of a rotatable timershaft 63. The shaft 63 is supported for rotation in bearings providedtherefor in bracket plates 59 and carries a suitable number of camsdesignated at 64, 65, 66, 61, 6B, 69 and 10. A panel of insulatingmaterial designated generally at H is also mounted on the bracket plates64 and provides a support for electric switches I2, l3, l4, l5, 16, Tiand 18, and their binding posts which are designated at 80 in Figure 5.The switches 12 to i! are of identical construction and each includes afixed contact 8| carried by a supporting lug 82 secured to the panel ii,and a movable contact 83 engageable with the fixed contact and supportedon a resilient arm 84. The end of the arm opposite the contact 83 isbowed as at 85 and fastened to the control panel. The inherentresilience of the arm 84 biases the contact 83 into engagement with thecontact 8|. Each arm 84 has a spring-like follower 86 which iscooperatively related to the adjacent cam whereby when the high part ofthe cam comes around it will wipe against the follower and thereby flexthe arm 84 to disengage its contact 83 from the cooperable contact 8|and consequently break the circuit controlled by these contacts.

In actual installations the heaters equipped with the Stamets-Duckworthcontrol disclosed in said Patent 1,883,051 have the current relay R ofsaid patent, its pilot lamp P, rheostat R for the load adjustment, apush button station for the push buttons B B B and B for raising andlowering and for either hand or automatic operation, and the recordingammeter A for recording the power in-put into the main beater motor ofsaid control, all mounted on a panel board. And in addition to thecurrent transformer T the reversing switch S and the potentialtransformer T of said patent, limit switches are provided, one of whichis out into the circuit to the side of the reversing switch which raisesthe roll and prevents the roll being raised too high by means of thehand switch, as illustrated at ID in Figurefi. A second limit switchdesignated at H (Figure 6) is also incorporated in the circuitconnections of the other coil of the reversing switch.

Referring again to Figure 6, it will be seen that when the dog 52 closesthe master limit switch 51 coil 81 will be energized, the currentflowing from power line 88 through wire 88, closed switch 15, wire 15,closed switch 51, wire 51', coil 81, wire 81 to the other power line 89.Coil 81, when energized, controls the position of normally closedswitches 90 and 9| and also of normally open switches 92, 93, 94 and 95.These switches 90, 9|, 92, 93, 94 and 95 are interlocked as indicateddiagrammatically in Figure 6, so that when the coil 81 is energized itopens the switches 90 and 9| and closes the switches 92, 93, 94 and 95.

When the switch 95 is closed it starts the cycle timer in operationinasmuch as current will flow from power line 88 through wires l2 andI3, closed switch 95, wires l4 and IE, to the timer motor 60, and thencethrough wire l6 back to the other power line 89.

When the switch 90 is opened it cuts out the automatic regulator of theStamets-Duckworth control as will be obvious from Figure 6.

When the switch 92 is closed it energizes the coil corresponding to thecoil 31 of the Stamets and Duckworth patent and consequently reversesthe auxiliary motor 25 to cause it to raise the beater roll back toits-starting position whereupon limit switch I0 is opened to stop themotor 25.

Closing of the switch 94 energizes the contactor coil 96 which iseffective to cause the motor 31 of the dump valve 38 to be operated toopen the dump valve. When the dump valve 36 has been completely opened,limit switch 38' automatically stops the operation of the motor 31.

As the timer motor is now in operation its cams will successively closeswitches 13 and 14 thereby successively energizing the coils 91 and 98.These coils 91 and 98 are in controlling relation to the flush valves 40and 4! and when energized open these valves whereas when de-energizedallow the valves to close under the influence of their respectivebiasing means.

As will be understood from the diagram shown in Figure 7, the switches13 and 14 are closed for only a short time so that the flush valves areautomatically closed since opening of the switches 13 and 14de-energizes their contactor coils 91 and 98.

In Figure 7 the arcuate lines in heavy black graphically illustrate thetime each of the switches 12 to 18, inclusive, are closed in each cycleand are numbered to correspond to their respective switches.

Further operation of the cycle timer causes one of its cams to open theswitch 15. This de-energizes the coil 81 and consequently results in thereturn of the switch 9| to its normally closed position therebyenergizing the contactor coil 99 which is effective to reverse theoperation of the motor 31 to cause it to close the dump valve 36.

Continued operation of the timer causes the switch 16 to be closedthereby energizing the contactor coil I00 which controls the operationof the motor operated valve 48 and causes said valve to be open untilthe operation of the motor is stopped by the action of limit switch 39.As the timer shaft continues to rotate the switch 16 is opened andfollowing that the switch 11 is closed thereby energizing the contactorcoil 0| which reversely operates the motor valve 48 and causes thisvalve to be closed. Upon complete closing of the valve, limit switch 40'interrupts the operation of the motor which actuates the valve 48.

The switch 11 is next opened and shortly thereafter the continuedrotation of the timer closes the switch I so as to again cut in theautomatic regulator and the beating operation goes on. The timercontinues to run unitl it opens the switch 18 which cuts oiT the supplyof current to the timer motor 60, the switch 95 also being opened atthis time.

It will be understood from Figure 7 that the switch 18 is closed shortlyafter the timer begins its operation so that current is supplied to thetimer motor 60 even after the switch 95 returns to its normally openposition upon de-energization of the coil 81. After the cycle ofoperation described the beating goes on untilthe dog 52 again closes theswitch 51 whereupon the operations enumerated above are repeated.

In the operation of the device the adjusting rheostat of theStamets-Duckworth control, which is connected across the coil of thecurrent relay, provides the means of adjusting the apparatus to maintainthe desired load on the main motor. In beating the first batch of stockthe main motor is set into operation and the beater roll is lowered byhand, that is, by utilizing the hand wheel H provided on one end of theshaft 29 or by closing the switches corresponding to switches B and B ofthe control system of Patent No. 1,883,051, untilthe recording ammeterindicates the desired load on the main motor. The switch correspondingto the switch B of Patent No. 1,883,051 is now closed so that the beateris thrown over to automatic operation and at this time the rheostat isadjusted until the balanced lever of the current relay of theStamets-Duckworth control is in a balanced position. This willmaintain'a constant load on the motor as pointed out in Patent No.1,883,051. If the load I is greater than the predetermined amount thecurrent relay will close one contact and through the reversing switchwill turn the control motor in the direction to raise the roll off fromthe bed plate. Likewise, if the load becomes less than the desiredamount the current relay will close the other circuit -which will lowerthe roll on the bed plate, thus increasing the load on the mainmotor.

As the operation continues the fibrous stock is periodically sampled andlaboratory tested until it has been worked to the desired extent andpossesses the desirable characteristics. The beating operation is thenmanually stopped and the dog 52 is adjusted so that in beatingsubsequent batches of stock, when the roll occupies the positioncorresponding to its final position in beating the first batch, the dog52 will automatically trip the limit switch 51.

It is to be understood that the fundamental feature of novelty of thepresent invention resides in the discovery that there is a definiterelationship between characteristics of the stock and beater rollposition with respect to the bed plate when the power input to the rollis maintained substantially constant and the beating cycle is allowed tovary through a longer or a shorter period according to the consistencyand/or hardness of the stock. This discovery is utilized in the presentinvention by first, periodically testing and sampling the first batch ofstock until it has been properly prepared. Second, during the working ofthe first batch of stock indexing or measuring the motion of the beaterroll or similar element toward the bed plate or cooperable element.Third, utilizing the measurement or indexing in a mechanical orelectrical way to terminate the working of subsequent batches of thestock. This last operation is usually accomplished by causing theauxiliary motor to return the beater roll back to its starting positionwhen the stock has been properly prepared or worked. In addition to theforegoing, the invention also contemplates combining with thisfundamental combination the cycle timer and auxiliary apparatushereinabove described.

It is important to note that it is the final roll position whichdetermines the time at which the working or preparation of the stock isterminated, irrespective of the initial or starting position of theroll. The initial or starting position of the roll is determinedautomatically by the consistency and/0r hardness of the stock and theautomatic control means which maintains substantially constant powerinput to the beater roll. As a consequence, even though batches varysomewhat in hardness or in similar properties anda somewhat longer timemay be required for their proper preparation or working the operationwill be carried on to its completion since it is the final roll positionrather than time that is the controlling factor. And furthermore, thecessation of the working or preparation is entirely independent of thestarting or original position of the roll.

While I have shown and described one apparatus and one method embodyingthe present invention, it is to be understood that the particulars ofthis disclosure are to be considered as illustrative rather thanrestrictive and that various changes within the spirit of the inventionand the scope of the subjoined claims are contemplated.

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for beating fibrous stock comprising a trough, a bedplate therein, a beater roll cooperable with the bed plate, a mainelectric motor for rotating said beater roll, lighter bars carrying saidroll, gearing for swinging said lighter bars to shift said roll towardand away from said bed plate, an auxiliary electric motor for actuatingsaid gearing, means for causing the auxiliary motor to lower the lighterbars when the current input to the main motor decreases below apredetermined value and to raise the lighter bars when the current inputto the main motor increases above said value, a master control deviceoperable when actuated to shut off" the supply of current to said mainmotorflindexing mechanism driven by said bearing and including means. toregister the position of the beater roll relative to the bed plate, andsettable means cooperable with said registering means and alsocooperable with the master control dcfor actuating said gearing, meansfor causing the auxiliary motor to lower the lighter bars when thecurrent input to the main motor decreases below a predetermined'valueand to raise the lighter bars when the current input to the main motorincreases above said value, a master control device operable whenactuated to shut off the supply of current to said main motor, indexingmechanism driven by said gearing and including a disk rotated to anextent proportional to the advance of the beater roll toward the bedplate and having means thereon to indicate the position of the beaterroll with respect to the bed plate, and a dog adjustably interconnectedwith the disk and cooperable with the master control device for trippingthe same whereby the heating cycle may be terminated in response tomovement of the beater roll to a predetermined position.

k 3. An apparatus for beating fibrous stock comprising a trough, a bedplate therein, a beater roll cooperable with the bed plate,- a mainelectric motor for rotating said heater roll, lighter bars carrying saidroll, gearing for swinging said lighter bars to shift said roll towardand away from said bed plate, an auxiliary electric motor for actuatingsaid gearing, means for causing the auxiliary motor to lower the lighterbars when the current input to the main motor decreases below apredetermined value and to raise the lighter bars when the current inputto the main motor increases above said value, a master control deviceoperable when actuated to shut oil the supply of current to said mainmotor, indexing mechanism driven by said gearing, motor actuatedinstrumentalities associated with the trough for performing operationscorelated to the beating of the fibrous stock, a cycle timer operable tocontrol the action of said motors and said motor actuatedinstrumentalities, and means actuated by said indexing mechanism tocontrol the operation of said cycle timer.

4. An apparatus for beating fibrous stock comprising a trough, a bedplate therein, a beater roll cooperable with the bed plate, a mainelectric motor for rotating said beater roll, lighter bars carrying saidroll, gearing for swinging said lighter bars to shift said roll towardand away from said bed plate, an auxiliary electric motor for actuatingsaid gearing,,means for causing the auxiliary motor to lower the lighterbars when 2,214,oso

the current input to the main motor decreases below a predeterminedvalue and to raise the lighter bars when the current input to the mainmotor increases above said value, a master control device operablewhenactuated to shut ofi the supply of current to said main motor, indexingmechanism driven by said gearing, a motor operable dump valve for saidtrough, a motor operated flushing device overlying said trough, a motoroperated stock supply connection leading to said trough, a cycle timerin controlling relation to all of said motors, and means actuated bysaid indexing mechanism for setting said cycle timer into operation,

5. In a beater including a bed plate, a rotatable beater roll, means forsupporting the roll for movement towards and from the bed plate, a motorfor driving the roll, electric control means for maintainingsubstantially constant predetermined load on said motor, said controlmeans including means for moving the roll away from the bed plate as theload on the motor tends to rise above said predetermined load and formoving the roll towards the bed plate as the load on the motor tends tofall below said predetermined load, the combination with said rollmoving means of means movable thereby and concurrently with the beaterroll for indicating the position of the roll with respect to the bedplate, switch means operable, when actuated, to terminate the beatingcycle, and means carried by the indicator and movable therewith toengage the said switch means and actuate the same when the beater rollis moved to a predetermined position with respect to the bed plate.

6. In a beater, a bed plate, a rotatable beater roll, means forsupporting the roll for movement towards and away from the bed plate, amotor for driving the roll, control means for maintaining substantiallyconstant predetermined load on said motor, said control means includingmeans for moving the roll away from the bed plate as the load on themotor tends to rise above said predetermined load, and means for movingthe roll toward the bed plate as the load on the motor tends to fallbelow said predetermined load, master control means operable whenactuated to deenergize the first mentioned control means and todeenergize the roll driving motor, and means operatively connected withsaid. roll .movin means for actuating said master control means when theroll reaches a predetermined position with respect to the bed plate tothereby terminate the beating cycle.

7. In a beater, a bed plate, a rotatable beater roll, means forsupporting the roll for movement towards and from the bed plate, meansfor drive ing the roll, control means for maintaining substantiallyconstant resistance to turning movement of the roll, said control meansincluding means formoving the roll away from the bed plate as theresistance to turning movement of the roll tends to rise above saidpredetermined resistance, and for moving the roll towards the bed plateas the resistance to turning movement tends to fall below saidpredetermined resistance to turning, means for automatically terminatingthe beating cycle when the roll reaches a predetermined positioninrespect to the bed plate, said last-mentioned means including a membermovable by the roll moving means to positions corresponding to thepositions of the beater roll with respect to the bed plate, and stopmeans, operable by said movable member when the beating roll reaches apredetermined position in respect to the bed plate.

8. In a beater, a bed plate, a rotatable beater roll, means forsupporting the roll for movement towards and away from the bed plate, amotor for driving the roll, control means for maintaining substantiallyconstant predetermined load on said motor, said control means includingmeans for moving the roll away from the bed plate as the load on themotor tends to rise above said predetermined load, and means for movingthe roll toward the bed plate as the load on the motor tends to fallbelow said predetermined load, master control means effective whenactuated to deenergize the first mentioned control means and to energizethe roll moving means to raise the roll away from the bed plate, andmeans operatively connected to said roll moving means to actuate saidmaster control means upon movement of the roll to a. predeterminedposition in respect to the bed plate to thereby terminate the beatingcycle.

WILLIAM A. KELLEY.

